{HoloNet news program "Hardtalk"}
Host Rachel Lee: And now, turning to the race for the position of Survey Minister. In a unexpectedly fierce contest for this secondary, but nevertheless vital post; 2 candidates had so far thrown their hats in the ring. So far Chuck Wilson [Candidate 1] has "proposed policy of minimal expansion and maximum efficient in the grav and geo survey areas." vowing "Not a single dollar will be wasted under my proposed guidance." He then challenged <insert name here> [Candidate 2] about his complete lack of having no policies or agenda. But in a stirring speech broadcast earlier today, some of those questions were answered. "I will send you, our (newly graduated naval officers) valiant and intrepid explorers forth to find more wealth among the stars." And ".. so I say we must go boldly to the stars with as many fine ships and well trained men and women to pilot them as we are able." were some of the responses. Here to answer more questions on Hardtalk is Survey Minister Candidate 2. We hope that candidate Wilson will be able to join us later on this program.
Welcome to Hardtalk [Candidate 2]. Do you have any initial statement?
[Candidate 2]: Thank you Rachel. Glad to be here. I'm happy to see a worthwhile debate on policy issues. This will be an important decision our new government will soon make, possibly one of the most important in history.
Rachel Lee: One of the items you challenged your opponent on was the use of the word efficient. Is it your position that your policy would be inefficient?
[Candidate 2]: {chuckles a bit} No, not exactly Rachel. But I would not make cost the single most important factor as my honorable opponent seems to imply with his " minimal expansion and maximum efficient" line. Note my reference to and request for some deep space scouts from the minister of production. I'm sure we are all familiar with the war college studies showing that scout ships operating far from home can often be deathtraps for their crews in the face of threats they discover. I have run studies about using armed scout ships and sadly the cost figures do seem prohibitive at least at this time. The next best thing the simulations show is using a scout ship with some of the best active and passive sensors we can design to scan a system before sending ships to explore the planets for resources or look for more jump points. To show that I have some thought as to the total cost of such a program, I would propose that these scout ships actually be fleet scouts under direct control of the military, but on loan to the survey service in times of peace. The only requirement from my point of view is that they be small enough for the survey command jump tenders and fast - something I don't think any Admiral would be against. The ability to scout an enemy position and run away has been valuable through the entire history of warfare. This way the Admirals would have a few fast scouts with experience scanning system for threats if we ever run into any.
Rachel Lee: You seem to take it as a foregone conclusion that we will run into enemies, many in the ministry of foreign affairs or even the senate would call that very xenophobic.
[Candidate 2]: I'm sure that some of them would. Honestly I do not know what we will encounter. And neither does anyone else. But space is vast, we will probably eventually encounter anything we can imagine and many things we can't. Friends, enemies, specters that will haunt our collective nightmares, wealth beyond counting and tragedy beyond imagination. We must be ready for as much of it as we can.
Rachel Lee: What do you think of the school of thought shared by many that any race advanced enough to explore the stars must be peaceful. What...
[Candidate 2]: I hope it is true, but that anyone who wants to bet the future of all humanity on that hope is blinded by the worst kind of delusion.
Rachel Lee: Well I guess that position is clear at least. Moving on; you hinted at expanding our presence to other worlds. Isn't that the purview of the President or Minister of Colonization?
[Candidate 2]: Indeed it is. But I am quite sure just based on human history that if habitable worlds or even near habitable worlds are found by survey crews they will be settled. It's in our nature. The priority and pace of that settlement is indeed beyond the responsibilities of the office seek. I just predict it will happen, and the even the President may not be able to completely control it.
Rachel Lee: You briefly alluded to navy Admirals who you would need to work with, a prominent representative and candidate for Minister of Military Affairs recently endorsed your opponent, saying you are not "ready for the responsibility of guiding policy in matter of this magnitude". Your response?
[Candidate 2]: Well first I would challenge his absolute assumption that "the galaxy is not a safe place and Trans-Newtonian resources are not common". We have no idea what the rest of the galaxy holds, which is precisely why we must explore. If it is true our advance will of necessity be more cautious, but we don't need to assume the worst case right from the beginning. In fact I think his statement "The only rational choice must be a measured, slow exploration and expansion, only to be modified in times of great need." Is exactly backwards, though I do agree with the measured description. In my opinion we should have a robust exploration program in times of prosperity and when there are no threats on the horizon. It is if we encounter a potential threat and adjust our deployments to counter it, that our exploration should be the most conservative as to avoid a multi-axis threat. I do agree with his sentiment that "we must ensure that the brave men and women manning the ships expanding our frontiers are never far from reinforcement".
Rachel Lee: Interesting points. I'm sure we will hear more about this as the campaign progresses. But still his endorsement, the first of the campaign, must be a blow to your campaign.
[Candidate 2]: Only time will tell, but it sure doesn't help. Still some of the most telling words of his endorsement may be "and close personal friend". By the nature of our government, the Minister of Military Affairs and Minister of Survey will need to work closely together and will together control a significant amount of influence and almost all military power. I would say there is a risk if the two ministers are too friendly and think very much the same.
Rachel Lee: Well your reputation for clearly speaking your mind is certainly well deserved. What do you have to say to the candidate for the Minister of Commerce and Production and his call for a complete policy?
[Candidate 2]: I am in favor of a robust exploration program, but not a reckless one. I propose deploying our survey ships in semi-permanent groups. Each group will have 1 jump tender and from 3 to 12 survey ships (most likely evenly divided between geo and grav), plus one scout (on loan from the navy, at least initially). All survey ships should be capable of a high a speed as can be reasonably achieved while still having good fuel efficiency. If they can't be armed, our crews should at least have a chance to escape and it will make them more efficient at their primary task. Each survey ship should be equipped with 2 of the best survey instruments developed. This will make them more efficient in their primary task. The cost per ship, both initial and re-occurring will be higher, but the cost per sensor will be lower. The jump ship should not participate in survey activities, but remain at the jump points to serve as a link in the communication chain back to survey command should anything interesting be discovered. The scout ship could help with this and if possible in the future may be equipped their own jump drives. I'm sure any Admiral would like to have independently deployable scouts. If possible the jump tender could have extra fuel or engineering stores.
When a new point is explored, the tender and scout go first. Once the tender's jump engines are ready for a return jump the scout will light up its active sensors to make sure the area nearby is clear. If it is the tender returns to the known system, picks up survey ships and returns to the new system. Once the ferrying is done the tender takes up station at the JP in the new system and awaits the results. The scout could patrol the area near the JP or head toward the primary for a close look at the inner planets or other area of special interest. That would be the initial tactical plan for survey groups, I'm sure it would be modified with experience and in the future would could look forward to jump capable, long endurance survey ships or even survey "carriers" with parasite boats capable of the survey functions.
Strategically I'm a bit more conservative. First a bubble of at least two star systems should be achieved before any major colonization is attempted. Mining colonies, sensor outposts or even logistics depots wouldn't qualify, but large civilian populations should have at least a moderate safe zone cleared for them. Once such a buffer zone is cleared out around our home, I would focus most of the survey assets on one 'tree' until some natural stopping point is reached or the bubble stretches out to a distance to hard to exploit from the nearest inhabited system. I would then turn our survey asset's attention en masse to the next most promising or neglected tree. This may prove for some uneven expansion, but it will be both more efficient and more defensible. I do concur with our esteemed candidate for Military Affairs that we must have defended (or at least defensible) positions and consolidated supply lines. As another famous man once said "Amateurs study tactics; professionals study logistics". I believe that providing logistics for a star faring civilization will prove a challenge for all.
Rachel Lee: Well that seems pretty complete, at least until the opposition gets a crack at it. Any final comments?
[Candidate 2]: I welcome any constructive suggestions, from them a better plan will develop. Some may say this sounds like and expensive plan, and they are likely correct. Some will say why spend all this money 'in space'. First let me say that the long term cost of not expanding is greater than staying home and second not once credit will be spent 'in space'. Every bit of it will be spent right here at home. We will spend it developing the technology to deploy the best ships we can. We will spend it on good jobs building these ships and others for the navy to defend us if needed. The same technologies that make a warship evasive can make a survey ship fast and efficient. Those that let a laser or missile target a threat will let the scouts see the threat, while its still 'out there'.
It is true we must use the limited supply of the new 'Trans-Newtonian' minerals wisely, but if we don't find more, no matter how efficient we become we will eventually run out. The only way to get more is to go out there and that is what we must do. That is what we will do under my leadership in the Ministry of Survey, at a fair but safe pace.
Rachel Lee: Thank you. This has been [Survey minister candidate 2]. After the break our campaign coverage continues...
